Aeroplane



P. HAMERLA AEROPLANE Filed June 27, 1924 INVENTOR eflzul Jthmarla. BY

ATTORNEY K Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL HAMERLA, OF TITUSVTLLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed June 27, 1924. Serial No. 722,689.

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL HAMERLA, citizen of the United States, residing at Titusville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aeroplanes, being here shown as embodied in a manually propelled aeroplane, although certain features thereof are adapted for application to aero- .planes in general.

The invention has for an object the pro vision of an aeroplane of this type having improved and simplified control means, and which is arranged for convenient collapsing or folding of the wings or supporting planes thereof.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended'claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a side elevational view showing my improved aeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

As here embodied my improved aeroplane comprises a streamline body or fuselage 10- which is mounted at its front end on ordinary wheels such as 11, and on its rear end on a single wheel 12. The aeroplane is here of the monoplane type with a single pair of wings 14 which project one from each side of the body and which are removably attached to the latter being here shown as secured at their rear edges to the body by means of hinges 15 and at their front ends by the attaching devices in the form of bolts 16 passed through registering lugs 17 on the wing and body. With this arrangement the wings can be turned back beside the body to accommodate the aeroplane to a confined storage space. The wings are braced in extended position by top and bottom wires 18 and 18' the former of which connect to a post 19 projecting upward from the body and the latter to the said body, these wires being detachably connected to the wings.

The aero lane is provided with the usual rudder 20 or lateral steering, and elevator 21 for vertical steering, these parts being hinged to the rear end of the body for appropriate movement. The hinge pintle 22 of the rudder has fixed to the lower end there of a crossbar 23 to which the rear ends of a pair of cords or wires 24 are attached, these wires extending forwardly to connect at their other ends to a crossbar 25 fixed on the lower end of a steering post 26 to which is attached a pair of steering handles 27; The hinge pintle 30 of the elevator, which latter is of bi-laterai construction, extends transversely through the body 10 and has fixed thereto between its ends a cross arm 35 to which the rear ends of a pair of cords or wires 36 are attached, these cords or wires extending forward to connect at their-other ends with an operating lever 37 fulcrumed at38 in the body of the aeroplane and provided with an ordinary locking member in the form of a bolt 39 adapted to engage a segmental rack 40.

The rear wheel 12 is provided, with a brake in the form of a shoe 42 which is fixed on the lower end of a rod 43 which extends upward into the body 10 through a bearing member'44 and is adapted to be depressed to apply the brake by means of a bell crank lever 45, which is fulcrumed at 46 in the body and bears at one end on the upper end of the rod 43. To the opposite end of this lever 45 a cord 47 or wire is connected and extends forwardly to connect to a foot pedal 48 located adjacent the operators seat 49. I have preferably arranged this brake 42 so that when the elevator 21 is swung to its extreme upward position the brake is applied without the necessity of bearing on the'pedal 48. As here shown the top half of the crossbar 35 which operates the elevator is in the form of a fork 35' while the cord or wire 47 passes through the legs of this fork. Fixed to this cord 47 immediately in front of the bar 35,is a collar 50 which is adapted to be engaged by the said bar when the elevator is swung to its extreme upward osition. With this construction the aerop ane can be' more uickly stopped after landing on the ground, t e upward tilt of the elevator acting both to press the rear wheel more firmly against the ground, and to apply the brake thereto. The brake is normally held in released position by means of a coiled expansion spring 53 which surrounds the rod 43 and bears upwardly on a collar 54 on the latter.

For propelling the aeroplane I provide a helical propeller 60 at the front thereof which isfixed on ashaft arranged for driving by such means as may be desired. As here shown a bevel gear 62 is fixed to the rear end of the shaft 61 and is engaged by an idler 63 which in turn cnga es a bevel gear 64 on the front end of an inc ined shaft 65 which has a bevel pinion 66 on its rear end meshing with a large bevel gear 67 fixed on a stub-shaft 68 and. adapted for rotation by the foot edals 69 which are fixed thereto.

While I a e illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is U lows 1. In an aeroplane, a body, a sustaining plane, an elevator, a wheeled carriage for said body, a brake adapted to engage one of the wheels of said carriage, and a common operating means for said brake and said elevator.

2. In an aeroplane, a body, a sustaining plane, an elevator, a wheeled carriage for said body, a brake adapted to engage one of the wheels of said carria e, and a common operating means for said rake and said elevator, said means being adapted to cause the brake to be applied when the elevator is tilted to its extreme upward position only.

3. In an aeroplane, a body, a sustaining plane, an elevator, a wheeled carriage for said body including a wheel at the rear end thereof, a brake adapted to engage said wheel, a rod on which said brake is fixed, said rod being slidably mounted in the said body. a lever adapted to bear on the upper end of said rod to apply the said brake, an operating cord attached to said lever, a forked operating arm for said elevator through the legs of which the said cord passes, and a fixed collar on said cord adapted to be engaged by said operating arm to move the said cord and apply the said brake.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

PAUL HAMERLA. 

